Applicator for oropharyngeal anesthetic

Abstract

An anesthetic dispensing device ( 100 ) particularly adapted to apply anesthetic agent to the oral cavity and upper tracheal area of a medical patient prior to intubation of such patient. An exemplary dispenser ( 100 ) includes a handle ( 110 ) operably connected to a retractor ( 112 ) that carries an anesthetic dispensing device ( 104 ). A currently preferred dispensing device ( 104 ) includes a fluid-dispersing nozzle ( 118 ) in fluid communication with a syringe ( 116 ). Sometimes, an optical device ( 164 ) is coupled to the dispenser ( 100 ) to permit direct visualization of the application of anesthetic agent.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus comprising:
 a holder including a handle operably connected to a proximal end of a retractor that is adapted for insertion into the mouth of a medical patient to dispose a distal end of the retractor in proximity to oropharyngeal tissue, wherein the retractor is curved along a length axis effective to permit insertion of the retractor into the mouth to dispose the distal end in approximate registration with the tracheal-esophageal bifurcation area of the patient and further wherein the retractor has an axial bending stiffness, in a transverse direction, which axial bending stiffness is sufficiently large to permit moving the tongue of the medical patient effective to permit advancing the distal end of the retractor to the bifurcation area, but is too small to permit effective use of the apparatus as a laryngoscope blade, wherein the retractor has an axial bending stiffness such that a load of about 20 pounds (9 kg) produces a tip deflection of at least 0.75 inches (1.9 cm) during a tip-deflection test of a holder; and 
 a fluid dispenser carried near the retractor's distal end. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid dispenser comprises a sponge. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid dispenser comprises a fluid dispensing nozzle. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the nozzle comprises a fluid atomizer structured to impart spin to a fluid about a spray axis passing through a discharge orifice prior to ejecting the fluid from the orifice. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a syringe operably connected to the nozzle to permit dispensing a dose of fluid by depressing a plunger of the syringe. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein a barrel of the syringe may be housed inside a portion of the handle. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the apparatus is structured to permit loading the syringe as a decoupled element, then coupling the syringe to the nozzle and stowing the loaded syringe inside a portion of the handle. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein structure of the handle is arranged to cooperate with structure associated with the syringe effective to permit dispensing a dose of fluid by depressing the plunger of the syringe with respect to the handle. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the nozzle is oriented with respect to the retractor such that a spray axis of the nozzle is directed at an angle to a tangent axis near the distal end of the retractor. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the nozzle is oriented with respect to the distal end of the retractor effective to permit dispensing fluid to an area prior to moving a portion of the retractor into contact with the area. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 3 , the retractor further comprising an aiming structure configured to orient the nozzle for discharge directed at a surface disposed inside an axial curvature of the retractor. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a syringe operably connected to the nozzle by way of a stretch of extension conduit to permit dispensing a dose of fluid by depressing a plunger of the syringe; and 
 a guide structure associated with the retractor and configured to hold a portion of the extension conduit. 
 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the nozzle may be manipulated to orient its spray axis with respect to a local axis of the retractor. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an optical device coupled to the retractor effective to permit an operator to obtain direct visualization of fluid application to tissue inside the patient. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the optical device is structurally coupled to the handle to permit the operator to effect one-handed application of fluid to the tissue while obtaining direct visualization of the fluid application. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the holder further comprises at least one rib configured to form a snap-fit effective to hold the syringe. 
     
     
       17. An apparatus comprising:
 a holder including a handle operably connected to a proximal end of a retractor that is adapted for insertion into the mouth of a subject to dispose a distal end of the retractor in proximity to oropharyngeal tissue, wherein the retractor is curved along a length axis effective to permit insertion of the retractor into the mouth to dispose the distal end in approximate registration with the tracheal-esophageal bifurcation area of the subject and further wherein the retractor has an axial bending stiffness such that a load of about 20 pounds (9 kg) in a transverse direction produces a tip deflection of at least 0.75 inches (1.9 cm) during a tip-deflection test of the holder, which axial bending stiffness is sufficiently large to permit manipulation of the tongue of the subject effective to position the distal end at the bifurcation area, but too small to permit effective use of the apparatus as a laryngoscope blade, wherein the bending stiffness causes the retractor to return to an original position with no external input; and 
 a fluid dispenser carried near the retractor's distal end. 
 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the retractor comprises a single member.